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Taking my dog with me on a trail ride?

He's a lab, and he's perfectly fine with horses. And my horse is absolutely madly in love with dogs (well anything that is smaller than him).
I've never taken a dog with me on a trail ride, except for one dog that just followed me one day.
I will use a retractable leash, but i want to know if there is anything i should watch out for? tips please so that my boys stay safe!

I think it is great that you want to take your dog, but there is one major safety issue I can see that no one has pointed out yet.

Have you ever had your dog become tangled up with you while you were walking him- even on retractable leash? What happens if the dog runs on the other side of a tree? I had one dog catch a branch in its leash while on a retractable leash. Even the calmest horse will look twice if a dog comes bolting back dragging a huge branch!

And what happens if your dog's leash becomes tangled around your horse's legs? Trapped legs cause panic in prey animals, and your horse is likely to panic and bolt. You could end up injured yourself with a dead dog and a terrified, injured horse.

If anything odd happens- idiots speeding up on you in ATVs, riding across a bees nest, stray dogs- you'll have to juggle the leash and your reins.

It may be just fine, but I'd recommend leaving your dog off leash. There are risks there as well, but everyone I've ever ridden with who takes their dog along leaves their dog off leash. I worked at a trail/ hack riding ranch and every guide who brought their dog to work trained their dog to respond instantaneously to voice commands, so that even if horses were acting up, deer were bolting past, or ATV riders acting like idiots, they'd have control over their dog.

If you have ever thought that a retractable dog leash sounded like a good idea, this article is for you. Those who have used one most likely have a story of a minor incident they have experienced while operating these supposedly convenient contraptions. Unfortunately, too many have stories to tell of much more horrific injuries and experiences. The numbers are staggering with injuries effecting humans and dogs alike. Some users were burned literally, learned our lesson, and threw out the product. Next to burns and lacerations, amputations are also common. People of all ages have lost parts of fingers when entangled with the cord that becomes incredibly sharp and tight during disarrangement of the doggy kind. We love our dog's excitement but for some it has resulted in lost limbs. With all of the love that I have for my own dog, I am glad that I sustained the wound and scar that would have been much more difficult to treat and possibly costly if done to himself. This is the case for many dogs who have also sustained burns and lacerations. More common injuries to dogs related to retractable leashes are the result of the leash cord or ribbon snapping and the dog getting loose. You can image all of the trouble a dog can get himself into. Some have been hit by cars, injured by other dogs, and caused injury themselves. This now becomes a huge liability for the dog owner that had previously taken the responsibility to retain their dog per most laws. Veterinary bills can be overwhelming for all involved.

It is not only the dog owners with experience using the retractable leashes that heed these warnings. Dog trainers across the world cringe when they see these leashes being used. They defeat the entire purpose of lead training. While training a dog to obey and perform on a leash they must first know that you are in control. This truly is not possible with the retractable leash variety. They must also learn that the pull they feel on the leash is their signal to let up, to know they have gone too far and return to their owner's side. Even if you haven't nor want to implement the heal training with your dog, I'm sure you would at the very least request that your dog not pull at the end of the leash. This makes walking the dog an unsafe chore instead of the pleasant exercise we would like to enjoy with our trusted friend.

ABC news interviewed certified dog trainer and behavioral consultant, Jamie Damato of Chicago for their article titled, "Dog Leash Dangers: Blindness, Amputations Blamed on Retractable Dog Leads". Damato said it's not just the injury factor that drove her away from retractable leashes. Letting a dog roam too far, especially when training, allows the dog to find all sorts of trouble. Some owners, she said, have watched in horror as their dogs darted into traffic while on a retractable leash while they fumbled with the lock. "If your dog is 16 to 18 feet in front of you ... it's almost impossible to have the response you want," she said.

Over the last few years there have been recalls on certain brands of these retractable dog leashes. Please do yourself and your pet justice by doing the research necessary to keep yourself and your dog safe before buying a leash. We suggest examining your needs, using sound logic, and finding a sturdy, functional, correctly weight rated leash and collar.

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